MONDAY ....

CHAMPIONSHIP
BRISTOL CITY - NOTTINGHAM FOREST

City have had 24 hours less recovery time and that should prove key, they have little to play for and have shown limited ambition in their last two starts, including a gruelling defeat at Sheffield United on saturday, failing to match the desire of the home team and losing the services of star striker Nicky Maynard for today, he was sent off in the first half at United. So, almost 50 minutes with ten men and they conceded chances freely with the Blades having 23 attempts on goals, 14 on target, that match unlike the rest of the UK was also played in a hail of rain and slippery underfoot conditions, very draining. Forest got their campaign back on track with a local derby win over Leicester on Friday and are now back in the final playoff place, but only on goal difference, with two other clubs also on 66 points and another just two behind and with all three clubs having win-able fixtures today, Forest will have to go all out for the win and I make them my best bet of the domestic programme.

Nottingham Forest -0.5 2.20 + ........ still quite a bit of 2.25 around.

LEAGUE 2
STOCKPORT COUNTY- NORTHAMPTON TOWN

Two struggling teams often mean goals and this should oblige. Only three wins will give County a chance of playing Football League football next week, sitting six point adrift of Town with a very poor goal difference, they have shown some fight for the battle coming off a 2-1 win at Port Vale and beating Southend 2-1 and drawing 2-2 with highflying and inform Stevenage in their last two home starts, however their total of 48 home goals conceded makes very scarey reading !

A point will not really suffice for Town either, unless they hear that results elsewhere have gone in their favour and they are not set up to keep things tight in any case, having conceded 12 in their last 5, with four of those producing four or more, on the plus side, they have scored two in each of their last three starts against Bury, Wycombe and Rotherham, a trio of the division's better teams. I think we will see both score twice today and this would be fun to watch.

"over" 2.5 goals 1.84

0.5 units "over" 3.5 goals 3.25 Hills... 3.40 Stan James.

CONFERENCE SOUTH

BRAINTREE TOWN - WELLING UNITED

Hosts were confirmed champions on saturday and have planned a party for after the game tonight, they have little to play for now and are going to rotate a little and ensure that as many players as possible get involved over their last two games. It is very difficult to see Braintree being too motivated on the pitch today, as after looking to be coasting towards promotion, they nearly blew things and were put under enormous pressure by Farnborough in recent weeks.

Welling are in the playoff places but only a point separates four clubs battling for two spots and they could really use all three points this afternoon.There is also an argument that Braintree might not be too concerened about the result and want to put a spanner in the playoff hopes of local rivals Chelmsford City who are a much bigger club and might attract more local attention in the higher flight.

Welling have lost their way in their last two outings dropping points against TWO teams who are likely to be relegated, however, they have tended to perform better against the top sides all season and have already posted ten road wins, they are unbeaten in seven starts ( five wins) againt playoff contenders since the start of last month, scoring 15 goals in the process and it looks clear that they need a quality of opposition to bring out the best in them. Regardless of which they simply HAVE to get something out of the game today. Handicap start is a bonus.

1.5 units Welling +0.25 1.85 +.

Good Luck.